Unique Baptismal Service

[Rhoni]

Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending a baptismal service at a local Charismatic Church where my co-worker was getting baptized. I was curious as to the formula they would use and was pleasantly surprised:

They baptized 62 people and before they were baptized read the candidate's personal commitment to the Lord and then they baptized them using the following formula:

I now baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost by the name and authority of our Lord Jesus Christ. I thought that it was perfect!

The service was personal, and scripturally correct in every way! The following worship/Encounter service was equally as wonderful. I love to see how God is moving across all denominational lines.

Blessings, Rhoni

[shawndell]

That is so beautiful and completely innocent and so wonderfuly pure that it makes my heart ache.This is a holy conception.A new developing baby in the womb.Praise God for his leading of innocent souls into his family!!

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending a baptismal service at a local Charismatic Church where my co-worker was getting baptized. I was curious as to the formula they would use and was pleasantly surprised:

They baptized 62 people and before they were baptized read the candidate's personal commitment to the Lord and then they baptized them using the following formula:

I now baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost by the name and authority of our Lord Jesus Christ. I thought that it was perfect!

The service was personal, and scripturally correct in every way! The following worship/Encounter service was equally as wonderful. I love to see how God is moving across all denominational lines.

Blessings, Rhoni

Im glad for each personal commitment to Christ. Im sure they are not aware of situations with how to baptize. The formula they used is very typical in Trinity Churches. Its exactly the one the Ceylon Pentecostal Mission uses.

It will lead to confusion down the road but everyone has to work out their own salvation.

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by shawndell

That is so beautiful and completely innocent and so wonderfuly pure that it makes my heart ache.This is a holy conception.A new developing baby in the womb.Praise God for his leading of innocent souls into his family!!

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Im glad for each personal commitment to Christ. Im sure they are not aware of situations with how to baptize. The formula they used is very typical in Trinity Churches. Its exactly the one the Ceylon Pentecostal Mission uses.

It will lead to confusion down the road but everyone has to work out their own salvation.

I think we assume too much. The baptizing them in the authority and name of Jesus Christ may be exactly how they interpret the scriptures to mean...I am not sure why we think we have a monoploy on what is considered "the truth". Corinthians tells us that...we all see through a glass darkly.

It astounds me how that when someone does it exactly right we can say, they did it accidently/innocently, or that they do it but don't understand it.

Amazing.

Rhoni

[Margies3]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

I think we assume too much. The baptizing them in the authority and name of Jesus Christ may be exactly how they interpret the scriptures to mean...I am not sure why we think we have a monoploy on what is considered "the truth". Corinthians tells us that...we all see through a glass darkly.

It astounds me how that when someone does it exactly right we can say, they did it accidently/innocently, or that they do it but don't understand it.

Amazing.

Rhoni

Well said, Rhoni.

Do we think that we have all of the truth? And that they have none of the truth? or do they have some of the truth? or is that only some of the time?

One thing I've never understood - and I know this opens a whole big can of worms - is this: While I believe in baptism in Jesus' name, I always have to wonder why it is that there are people out here who are even more sincerely seeking God and His guidance than many who were raised in the Apostolic church. If baptism in Jesus' name is so important, and if they are so sincere, why would God give the revelation of baptism to only a small group of people instead of to all who sincerely are seeking Him?

Don't get me wrong. I am not changing my baptism. I believe I was baptized the right way. But I don't believe that I am better than someone else who God has not given "the revelation" to. So why would He give it to you and to me, but not to them? And please don't give me that tired old song and dance about how He has tried and they wouldn't listen. I know too many people who, if God showed them, they would do it in a heartbeat.

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by Margies3

Well said, Rhoni.

Do we think that we have all of the truth? And that they have none of the truth? or do they have some of the truth? or is that only some of the time?

One thing I've never understood - and I know this opens a whole big can of worms - is this: While I believe in baptism in Jesus' name, I always have to wonder why it is that there are people out here who are even more sincerely seeking God and His guidance than many who were raised in the Apostolic church. If baptism in Jesus' name is so important, and if they are so sincere, why would God give the revelation of baptism to only a small group of people instead of to all who sincerely are seeking Him?

Don't get me wrong. I am not changing my baptism. I believe I was baptized the right way. But I don't believe that I am better than someone else who God has not given "the revelation" to. So why would He give it to you and to me, but not to them? And please don't give me that tired old song and dance about how He has tried and they wouldn't listen. I know too many people who, if God showed them, they would do it in a heartbeat.

The Bible tells us, "They that hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled." Maybe we are asking the wrong questions? There are many people who are spirit-filld that have not been baptized by the formula we use. I believe the one I cited to be absolutely correct Biblically.

If we think we have a revelations that the rest of the spirit-filled believers do not have then in fact; Are we questioning God? Like the Pharisees who called Jesus to task for many things he said and did, like healing on the sabboth, or forgiving sins instead of healing physically, or eating foods offerred to idols, and even sitting down to dinner and fellowshipping with those considered to be the dreggs of society...

Maybe we look at things from our own understanding and not at things the way Christ sees them. One thing I know for sure...there are a lot more saved believers than Apostolics think, and many Apostolics who have sins in their lives unrepented of, attitudes of self-righteousness, and sins of unforgiveness, malice & isolating from others who don't believe like they do...

well we get where I am going. I hope Apostolics who believe they are the only ones...are absolutely wrong. If they are right...then there is less hope for themselves as well as the rest of the believers - because legalism limits the grace of God and makes it null and void...according to scripture.

Blessings, Rhoni

[shawndell]

I dont mean anything negative or harsh about what I said on my post. Just from past experiances ive known people that did not know if they were baptized in Jesus name or the titles of Jesus name. So I think its wonderful when God leads some one and they get it right. I guess I asumed that the ones baptizing and the ones getting baptized were coming to God with a sincere heart and trying to do it right!

[Sam]

I have read on one of these forums that a UPC church in NE Ohio had a sign in the room where folks got ready to baptize and to be baptized. The sign instructed the person doing the baptizing to say, "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

I have not been there and did not see it for myself so I do not know if that is accurate or not. I'm passing it on as "hearsay."

I also was told by a UPC minister from Louisiana many years ago that a large UPC church in a certain city used this as a baptismal forumula, "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." The minister who told me that was not from that particular city. I don't know if he had ever been there during a baptismal service and personally heard those words spoken. So this is also "hearsay." That pastor later left the UPC.

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by Margies3

In every Apostolic church I ever attended, those being baptized were always placed under the water as the minister, "I now baptize you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." Always The Lord Jesus Christ. Never The name of the Lord Jesus or in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Maybe some of you have seen it done differently, but that's my experience.

But at one point in my life, I searched long and hard to find anywhere in the Scripture where anyone was ever baptized in the full name - the Lord Jesus Christ. It wasn't there.

In Acts 8:16 they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

In Acts 10;48 they were baptized in the name of the Lord.

In Acts 19:5 they're again being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

and finally in Acts 22:16, they were baptized calling upon the name of the Lord.

So again, I am NOT saying that being baptized in Jesus' name is wrong! Far from it! What I am saying is that to use the argument, "The only slight problem I see with it is that NO ONE WAS EVER BAPTIZED LIKE THAT IN THE BIBLE" is that no one was ever baptized in the exact formula that we use in Apostolic churches today either. That's the reason I have a hard time finding fault with a formula like the one used where Rhoni went last Sunday. But that's just me. And I'm not God. (a fact for which I am eternally grateful )

Originally Posted by Margies3

Please don't think I am finding fault. But that particular formula is never used exactly like that in the New Testament. Which proves my point. Thanks

Originally Posted by Sam

actually we don't have any actual quote of the words spoken by someone when they baptized.

We have a quote by Peter when he healed someone in Jesus' name in Acts 3:6 where he said, "...in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk"

We have a quote by Paul when he evicted a spirit from someone in Jesus' name in Acts 16:18 when he said, "I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her"

but, we have no such quotation by anyone doing baptism in Jesus' name.

We assume they spoke the name of Jesus in baptizing like they did in healing or exorcisms but we don't have a direct quote.

Originally Posted by Sam

I have read on one of these forums that a UPC church in NE Ohio had a sign in the room where folks got ready to baptize and to be baptized. The sign instructed the person doing the baptizing to say, "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

I have not been there and did not see it for myself so I do not know if that is accurate or not. I'm passing it on as "hearsay."

I also was told by a UPC minister from Louisiana many years ago that a large UPC church in a certain city used this as a baptismal forumula, "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." The minister who told me that was not from that particular city. I don't know if he had ever been there during a baptismal service and personally heard those words spoken. So this is also "hearsay." That pastor later left the UPC.

I think that the act of baptism is the point and doing everything we do in the name and by the authroity given to that name...Jesus. It is extreme legalism to think that the exact wording is what is important as everywhere they were baptized in the New Testament a different formula was used.

BTW - How was Jesus baptized? He was our example...what words did John the Baptist use? Maybe the wording was omitted for a reason? Just a thought.

Blessings, Rhoni

P.S. Great contributions everyone. I love it when we can discuss these thigns and not be harsh or aggressive, but reason together in love!

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by Margies3

In every Apostolic church I ever attended, those being baptized were always placed under the water as the minister, "I now baptize you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." Always The Lord Jesus Christ. Never The name of the Lord Jesus or in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Maybe some of you have seen it done differently, but that's my experience.

But at one point in my life, I searched long and hard to find anywhere in the Scripture where anyone was ever baptized in the full name - the Lord Jesus Christ. It wasn't there.

In Acts 8:16 they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

In Acts 10;48 they were baptized in the name of the Lord.

In Acts 19:5 they're again being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

and finally in Acts 22:16, they were baptized calling upon the name of the Lord.

So again, I am NOT saying that being baptized in Jesus' name is wrong! Far from it! What I am saying is that to use the argument, "The only slight problem I see with it is that NO ONE WAS EVER BAPTIZED LIKE THAT IN THE BIBLE" is that no one was ever baptized in the exact formula that we use in Apostolic churches today either. That's the reason I have a hard time finding fault with a formula like the one used where Rhoni went last Sunday. But that's just me. And I'm not God. (a fact for which I am eternally grateful )

Originally Posted by Margies3

Please don't think I am finding fault. But that particular formula is never used exactly like that in the New Testament. Which proves my point. Thanks

Originally Posted by Sam

actually we don't have any actual quote of the words spoken by someone when they baptized.

We have a quote by Peter when he healed someone in Jesus' name in Acts 3:6 where he said, "...in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk"

We have a quote by Paul when he evicted a spirit from someone in Jesus' name in Acts 16:18 when he said, "I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her"

but, we have no such quotation by anyone doing baptism in Jesus' name.

We assume they spoke the name of Jesus in baptizing like they did in healing or exorcisms but we don't have a direct quote.

Originally Posted by Sam

I have read on one of these forums that a UPC church in NE Ohio had a sign in the room where folks got ready to baptize and to be baptized. The sign instructed the person doing the baptizing to say, "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

I have not been there and did not see it for myself so I do not know if that is accurate or not. I'm passing it on as "hearsay."

I also was told by a UPC minister from Louisiana many years ago that a large UPC church in a certain city used this as a baptismal forumula, "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." The minister who told me that was not from that particular city. I don't know if he had ever been there during a baptismal service and personally heard those words spoken. So this is also "hearsay." That pastor later left the UPC.

I think that the act of baptism is the point and doing everything we do in the name and by the authroity given to that name...Jesus. It is extreme legalism to think that the exact wording is what is important as everywhere they were baptized in the New Testament a different formula was used.

BTW - How was Jesus baptized? He was our example...what words did John the Baptist use? Maybe the wording was omitted for a reason? Just a thought.

Blessings, Rhoni

P.S. Great contributions everyone. I love it when we can discuss these things and not be harsh or aggressive, but reason together in love!